Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)
PPTA has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urging her to immediately direct schools to deliver teaching and learning from home.
PPTA has been working for some weeks to ensure the safety of teachers in light of the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 situation.
The executive of the PPTA met over the weekend to discuss next steps. The decision was made at this meeting to call on the government to take immediate steps to protect teacher health and safety.
We have requested that schools remain “open for instruction” but that teaching and learning will take place from home, so that students may continue to be engaged with their learning without exposing the students and the school community to undue risk.
We are aware that there may be a number of consequences resulting from a wholesale closure of schools in New Zealand, including the ability to track and trace cases of COVID- 19, and allowing essential services workers to continue to work. However, our position remains that keeping schools open presents an unacceptable risk to many students, teachers and their families.
As a consequence we have written to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
